Academic Minor in Spanish

Why do you want a minor in Spanish?

You have your own personal reasons for wanting to learn Spanish. Each person's motivations are different. They may include:

Business

Heritage

Friendship

Service to Others

Travel

Participating in American Diversity

Communications Media

Art and Music

For most people, career opportunity enhancement is a particularly important reason to study Spanish. Career-oriented programs at UW-Stout that relate particularly to Spanish include:

International Business

International Studies Specialization

Education Degree Programs

Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management

Dietetics

Technical Communication

Your program adviser can offer you additional advice on the importance of Spanish in your chosen career.

Academic Requirements

Basic Goals The study of Spanish involves developing skills in speaking, understanding spoken Spanish, writing clearly and correctly, understanding material that you read, and interpreting cultural characteristics found in many countries. To earn a minor in Spanish requires that your skills in these five areas reach a significant level, so that you will be able to use Spanish effectively in a variety of practical settings.

The Need for Fluency As the Spanish-speaking population of the United States and the world grows, Spanish will become an increasingly useful tool in the workplace and in social settings. The more fluent you become, the more effectively you will be able to use your Spanish.

Upper Level Courses Upper level courses of the Spanish minor will help you attain a good level of proficiency in conversational Spanish as well as develop your ability to comprehend the written Spanish you may encounter in work related correspondence or information sources such as newspapers or the Internet. You are encouraged to take a literature course and a cinema course to become more sensitive to cultural issues, and to develop the ability to interpret the nuances of language, whether spoken or written.

Study Abroad Although study abroad is not required for the non-teaching Spanish minor at UW-Stout, it is strongly encouraged. UW-Stout currently has programs in Mexico (Cuernavaca and Monterrey) and Spain, in which you may enroll directly. The Office of International Education can also help you find a program through another university. Some scholarship money for study abroad is available through the Stout University Foundation.

Transfer Credits and Independent Study Many of the courses required for the minor may be taken during a study abroad experience or transferred from another university. Students with specific interests may be able to count an independent study course toward the minor.

Strongly Encouraged

A number of study abroad opportunities are available for those studying the Spanish language. Visit the study abroad website and consult with the Spanish minor adviser to determine which program is best suited to your individual goals.

Declaring a Minor

To declare a minor, complete the "Applying for a Minor"
survey online, and you will be given further instructions. Once this
has been processed you will receive an e-mail confirmation from the
Advisement Center.